Paramedics in Larkana end boycott after five days

They had opposed the appointment of a new medical superintendent for Chandka hospital.

SUKKUR: Much to the relief of patients who had been struggling to find treatment, paramedics at four hospitals in Larkana resumed work on Tuesday after boycotting their duties for nearly a week.

The boycott began on March 12, after Dr Zulfiqar Sial was appointed the medical superintendent of Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana. The paramedical staff claimed that he was not qualified for the job, as he was a grade 19 officer - one short of the grade specified by the rules as well as the Sindh High Court. They also claimed that Dr Sial had been using foul language while addressing the paramedics. The staff of Shaikh Zayed Women’s Hospital, Shaikh Zayed Children’s Hospital, Civil hospital and Chandka teaching college closed shop, refusing to resume duties till Dr Sial’s removal.



The boycott has now been called off as Dr Sial was transferred to Civil Hospital, Sukkur, late Monday night and Dr Mehboob Shah has taken his place at Chandka Medical College Hospital.

As a result of the strike, more than 200 operations had reportedly been postponed.

The vast majority of patients in the four medical institutions were shifted to private hospitals. The remaining ones were desperately waiting for some relief.

Two patients, Ahmed Nawaz Memon of Thari Hashim Goth near Larkana and Gulistan Bibi of Mehar died while waiting for treatment. Some private hospitals had started taking advantage of the closure of the hospitals and jacked up their rates to twice the amount and people had been forced to pay up, as they had no choice.



While talking to The Express Tribune, the president of the Paramedical Staff Association’s Larkana division, Shahi Khan Jagirani, said, “Dr Shah has now been appointed as Chandka Medical College Hospital’s medical superintendent. Our demand for the removal Dr Sial has been fulfilled.” He added that because of this, the paramedics have called off the strike and the four hospitals are back to normal.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2013.